July
Bryan Rodgers
2002-07-29
Greetings from Home Grown Headquarters! After a brief respite from the road, we are gearing up for the second half of summer. August holds many fine events, most notably CAMP BISCO 3: SENOR BOOMBOX, which will go down August 23-24 at Salansky Farms in Union Dale, PA. Two nights of Bisco plus Umphrey’s McGee, Particle, Dr. Didg, Lake Trout, The Motet, RANA, The Ally, The New Deal, Brothers past, and many more. It could be the best fest of the summer, really, based on lineup alone. I’ve heard that Salansky Farms is a great place to be for a weekend, and Walther Productions is running the show, so it should be incredible! We will also be at Walther’s Grassroots festival on August 10. The one-day event features Keller Williams, Charlie Hunter, Mofro, and many more. The venue, Oregon Ridge Park, is wonderful. Located about 20 minutes from Baltimore, it has a permanent domed stage and loads of open space. Check out www.walther-productions.com for the essentials on these events! While you’re at it, check out the new www.discobiscuits.com,
which is the best band site I have seen since I started paying attention. We also have our eye on the potentially legendary Haymaker Music Festival, which is taking place at Oakley Farm in Spotsylvania, VA, this October. Oakley Farm was the site of the 2001 All Good Festival, and I can vouch for what a great place it is. Talk about wide-open space! This fest will also feature two nights of The Disco Biscuits….greatest trend ever! Other acts include Bruce Hornsby and Steve Kimock, Keller Williams, Larry Keel, Magraw Gap, plus tons more, so check out www.haymaker.net for more. There are more fests to round out the season, like HarvestFest in Atlanta, Magnoliafest in Florida, and the Harmonic Convergence Festival in North Carolina, so check out the HGMN Festival Database at our website, www.homegrownmusic.net. www.jambase.com also has a giant database of festivals….. On the product tip….we have been assaulted by great music these past few months. Below are a few reviews of some of our newest albums, all available at http://www.homegrownmusic.net. We are especially pleased to announce the release of The Motet’s first live album on our label, Harmonized Records. Check out the reviews below for more on this and other fantastic discs! The Motet – Live Harmonized Records The Motet wants nothing more than to make your body gyrate uncontrollably. This is apparent from the opening percussion melee that starts their newest album, Live. This is not just a bunch of guys pounding on drums though. The Motet exhibits boundless soul, crafty songwriting, and high-caliber instrumental prowess throughout the album, which was recorded this past March on the west coast. Lead vocalist Jans Ingber’s voice is a confident blend of street soul and tribal intonation that curls nicely around the ubiquitous blend of keys, bass, guitar, percussion, and drumset. “Know Her” is a smooth showcase for Ingber, and the music drifts gracefully into near improvisation before returning to the main melody with a flourish. Extraordinary drummer Dave Watts and percussionist Scott Messersmith make it easy for keyboardist Greg Raymond and guitarist Mike Tiernan to lay down fusionoid harmony lines while bassist Paul McDaniel has unlimited freedom to wander all over the low end. “The Archer or The Arrow” is probably the best track on the disc with its enchanting melody and delicious percussion. The influences that weave their way into the African rhythms range from New Orleans funk (“Scribbitts”) to Motown (“Know Her”) and ancient chants (“Rumba Pa Los Santos”), shiny world-pop (“Aquelle Esquina”) to utterly American grooves (“Belly”). Live shows why the concert environment is the most fruitful for highly talented bands like The Motet. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Melvin Sparks – What You Hear Is What You Get Nectar Recordings Already considered to be a legend of “acid jazz”, guitarist Melvin Sparks has only increased his stature with this new recording. He and his wonderful band crank out simmering jazz/funk with tasteful precision and an experienced virtuosity. The Texas-born pioneer is buoyed by a sea of talent on this album, including special guests Reuben Wilson (organ) and Topaz (tenor sax). Sparks’ heavenly solos and cheery comping are the backbone of 9 songs, including a deeply satisfying cover of James Brown’s “Funky Good Time”. The primal influence of Brown is only part of what the band displays throughout the album. There’s a hint of bluesy grit in Sparks’ guitar line during the title track, and drummer Carter McLean proves himself as in imaginative player throughout, even when he’s just holding down the bottom. The sophisticated jazz of “Turn n’ Point” glides around a resonant acoustic bass line courtesy of Tim Luntzel as Sparks, organist George Papageorge, and alto saxophonist Joe Hrbek all take their turn at the solo wheel. The next three tracks feature Rueben Wilson, whose flawless organ swirls and jabs neatly into the band’s relentless grooves. His work on “Get n’ It” is downright tenacious, and the track clocks in as one of the longest on the album as they squeeze the jam for all its worth. The whole group is showcased on a cover of “Money”, which was written by Barnett Strong but popularized by The Beatles. Sparks turns the tune into a busy groove journey, with several stops along the way for guitar, organ, and sax solos. The melancholy “Breez” ends the album. What You Hear Is What You Get, and what you get is a timeless creation from a master of the form. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mad Dog Trio – Ex Nihilo Ex Nihilo, translated from Latin, means “creation, out of nothing”. Mad Dog Trio certainly has a lot of spontaneity, so the album title works. But leave it up to this affable trio from Greensboro, NC to be humble. The music on this disc is memorable due entirely to the talents of the members. As a keyboard trio, they unabashedly wield the influence of Medeski, Martin, and Wood, although MD3’s music is subtler and firmly rooted in funk. There’s plenty of space in their winding melodies and improvisational jaunts, which gives tunes like the album-starting “TRA” an effortless feel. Tom Royal’s thick bass growls below the shifting tempos of “Tabula” and “MD Groove”, as the band cycles through downtempo sonic meandering, insistent breakbeat flashes, and meaty jazz licks. The moody “Grey” is a showcase for keyboardist Amy Bowles’ snazzy piano skill. She often uses the synthetic keys to match notes with Royal while adding more colors with the piano. Drummer Post Postlethwait is simply in command of the whole situation, gently urging the band along with his inventive fills or charging along with a forceful funk beat. The aptly titled “Flip-Flop” boasts jarring time changes that make the song schizophrenic. Royal’s frenetic bass dominates “Gate City Bop”, and the title track sounds as if it probably was created out of nothing. Ex Nihilo is a stunning and promising debut from this unique band, whose presence will only grow after they complete a planned move to Boston later this year. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The McCloskey Brothers Band – self-titled Todd McCloskey, vocalist and mandolin picker for his family-namesake band, says “We’re more rock and roll than anything else.” From the opening flurry of their self-titled debut album, it’s clear that he’s right. There’s far too much going on to classify this as bluegrass, despite the instrumentation. You’ll find chord progressions more reminiscent of AC/DC than Bill Monroe. There’s not a lot of knee slapping, good-ol-boy bluegrass on the album, though it is a major influence. The strong-chorded opener, “Together Home”, is an energetic burst of tight rock songwriting. Todd and brother David’s harmony vocals are clearly the most natural ingredients, no doubt tested over decades of playing and singing together. Their songs are dramatic and beautifully crafted. All the band members show flashes of intense talent throughout the album. David’s righteous banjo picking, the organic airiness of Todd’s mandolin, the forceful bass of Steve Roseboom, and the strikingly rhythmic drumming of Dan Menchey combine to create a widely varying sound that is reminiscent of Acoustic Syndicate. Their sound is almost as indescribable. Moments of sleepy wistfulness hold hands with cathartic release in the same song. The teary-eyed “Angel” doubles as a driving vocal showcase. The vocal melodies would be welcome on just about any country music album, but their sensibility creates another sound entirely. The choruses are instantly catchy and memorable, particularly on the mountainous “Dream”. “Coming of the Winter” borders on electric funk for a bit before giving way to more glorious harmonies and lingering lyrics. Give this band from the quintessential mountain town of Nederland, Colorado a chance to enter your mind, and you’ll want to hear this album over and over. If you are a bluegrass fan or you just like oblique stuff, you’ll love our new “Legalize Bluegrass” t-shirts….check them out in our online store! Check out the latest additions to the HGMN Catalog of Kind Music: Porterhouse - "Prime Cuts" CD - Sizzling, fatty funk from this west coast band! Jazz, R&B, Soul, and funk combine with ingenious musical ideas to create the robust sound of Porterhouse! Deep grooves, snazzy horns, and searing solos dominate this album, their second ever. No seasoning necessary! $12.00 Yamagata - "Connect" CD - Dynamics are the name of this Memphis band's fusion game! This long overdue album features a revamped and energetic Yamagata ripping through their trademark fiery funk tunes including instrumentals and some new vocal experimentations that really add a new dimension to their inherently spontaneous compositions! Be sure to check out their CD Release Party at The Gibson Guitar Factory in Memphis on August 2 at 10 PM! $14.00 Big Daddy Bluegrass Band CD - At last, a document of this finely harvested traditional bluegrass band! This outfit consists of Steve McMurry (Acoustic Syndicate) on mandolin, guitar, and vocals, Larry Keel (guitar), Jenny Keel (bass, violin), dobro master Curtis Burch, and Billy Constable (banjo), and they all contribute wonderful vocals to the mix. The album was mostly recorded on one microphone, resulting in sort of a live performance. Pure acoustic music at its VERY best! $14.00 Steppin' Out With The Grateful Dead (4 CD set) - This is bloody fantastic! 4 CDs culled from rare masters from the Dead's famous Europe 1972 tour. These are the same tapes that gave us the legendary "Europe '72" album, and this 4CD extravaganza is equally amazing. Recorded April 7-8 and 11, 1972 and May 7, 23, 24, and 26, 1972. Just check out the tracks on our website! $30.00 The Jam Band Tribute to Frank Zappa CD - Some of Zappa's greatest tunes are reinvigorated on this eclectic tribute....expect the unexpected! $16.00 Lettuce - "Outta Here" CD - Sophisticated funky jazz courtesy of this oft-ignored band that features Soulive's Eric Krasnow and Sam Kininger as well as special guests like Neal Evans (Soulive), John Scofield, Fred Wesley, and more! This Lettuce is fresh, cool, glistening, and full of supreme musicianship! Rage it! $17.00 Larry - "Here I Am" and "A Family Album" CDs - Get a load of Larry's first two albums, both of which feature more of the indescribable multi-influenced rock and roll that these guys have perfected. From boogie to blues to bossa nova (maybe not...), this Austin band has got it figured out. Don't forget about their newest CD, the live offering "Among Friends". $12.00 each Jamie Janover - "Now, Center of Time" CD - Jamie Janover's hammered dulcimer mastery has earned him widespread acclaim from musicians like Trey Anastasio, Bela Fleck, Jamie Masefield, Sam Bush, and Stanley Jordan. Check out this new album, a mesmerizing journey of solo hammered dulcimer improvisation that brings the world to life while you listen. $14.00 Steep Canyon Rangers - "Mr. Taylor's New Home" CD - Traditional meets millennial on this new album from North Carolina's Steep Canyon Rangers! This youthful quintet wipes the decades of accumulated fog from old-time acoustic bluegrass and sheds new light on the form. $16.00 That’s all for this month! Thanks for reading Jambands.com and supporting our bands! Be safe- Bryan Rodgers
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